Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-07

MI j. Goldsborough Brufr, one Of the old resi-
oehIs Oh the District, In a communication to The
STAR, gives an interesting account OF the adven,-
eoreS vi the party which he organized and CON-
manded In their trip the Continent to Cali
Iornla In 1919. Among those Argonauts OF 1s49.
as they were well known, were many well-known
-Srents OF this District, was stated in recent
article on that subject In THE STAR Capt. Bruf
says that he was fond OF travel and adventure
from infancy, and before he was twentv-one years
or age he had crossed the Atlantic in various d.
rections, nine times. In the year 1s49 he was in
the employ of the Government and had been for
twenty-five years. and So he felt like en-
Joying change OF scene. The prospect
OF enjoying the adventures which such
an expedition promised was not uninviting, and
theh there was the possibility of golden reward
which might be his In this new land OF promise
tie consulted with some friends and suggested the
tormitlon or mounted party. and starting with
Tram OF pack mules from Independence NO., Tor
the golden land This suggestion being commu-
mcated to others, he says that IL was like an cleo
held In Apollo Hail. at that time the south side
or Pennsylvania avenue, between 18th and 14th
streets From that time regular meetings were
held weekly, and sometimes twice week at his
residence, when the ways and means were dis
cussed, estimates Of the cost were prepared, and
three was dispatched TO Pfttsburg TO have
fourteen company wagons built, to secure tents
horses, provisions for six months and ether sup
plies The uniform adopted was a short, single
breasted gray coat, belt with holsters and straps
Tor brace OF reyOverS, and broad brim felt hat.
Each man carried small Ratchet and a bowie
knife, knapsack, canteen, flask, rifle &c.
THE MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY,
as given by Capt. Brun, were as follows: J. Colds
borough Brun, commander; Gideon Brooke, second
commander; Columbus Mcleod, adjutant and
Quartermaster; Jno. Cammeron, commisSary; DR..
Henry Austin, surgeon; A. H. Parish secretary;
sign; Jno NJ Farrar, bugler; Chas. G. Alexander.
Geo. By1ngton, VIM. \. Barker, JAS. III. Barker
Jno. BnteS Chas. Bishop, B: \. BuIche Rch,d
augustus S. Capron, VIM. III. Dietz Jno. Y. Dom,
q. g. Dorsey tartist), Jno '. Ennis, Gregory
derrick (artis,,, WIN. II. Floyd, VIM. Franklin.
Thos. j. Gr1fhth, W. p Hillery, Josiah b. Hill, l.
A. Jardelia, VIM. Jewen, Thos. o: Kingsbury, s. D.
Moxley, Isaac owen, Thadeus Provost, O. E. Queen,
IA Queen, Chas Reed; Jas c; Rely, Henry
slight, Thos B. Scott, VIM. Ii. Trueman, Joseph
shaw, NJ. NJ. Tepperell, Henry Vermiliion Thos
DAN K wall, Jas. Wardell, J. c. Willis George a.
Young, Henry Wright, j. NJ. Warden
THE DEPARTURE.
son the % Of April, 1s49, at m, continues the
narrative: '+Our argOnauIS were paraded on the
pavement OF Lafayette square. opposite TO the
White House, armed and equipped as the law d.
reefs. That splendid volunteer corps, the WASH
ingtOn Light Infantry, Capt. TAFT, having offered
their services escort, came up and TOOK posi-
on our night tn n we ~ 'n e
Mansion The officers went up and exchanged cour-
tesies with his excelleney. Cen TAYLOR. briefly
stated to him the character and aSpirationSO or my
company and the route to be taken over the con-
tnent, via the South Pass OF the Rocky Mountains.
That many OF might never again have the
pleasure OF meeting him, and we deemed it
our duty to call with our best wishes for his
health and nap2nSe ana Od bdnd nun IN h III b 10
Thank you kindly; please TO present my compi1-
ments to the company under your command, and
say TO then that certainly wish them every sue
cess that their enterprise merits We parted, as
It happened forever. The order was given, .Atten-
ton! Shoulder arms and delivered TO my CON-
Iades the Presidents good wishes, and then. Pre-
sent arms! three cheersi carry! and column leftr
to the tune by the band OF The The Girl Left Be-
hind Me- Down the avenue, through the blind
Ing and SufYOcating blizzard and denSely crowded
thorougnrare, we went 10 the b. & U. depot.
The extraordinary character OF the parade, With
the interest manifested by relations, friends, and
acquaintance, had attracted, apparently, the en-
tire population OF the District, SO that with the
Guilty, keep along the center OF the avenue. At
length we reached a large restaurant adjacent to
elegant lunch provided for US by our very kind and
gallant friends the Light Infantry. Having salts
Ned ourselves with the viands and Wine, we
pledged
and embarked at $50 pm. On the special train
and amid vociferous huzzas and stentOrian good
byes, we babe adieu to our homes and all of its
wealth of love and friendship for oe us for
every We reached the Relay House at p. N.
at $50 the next morning we left for Cumber-
u.
$50 pm. reached Cumberland. We were trans
ferret TO small and OvercrOwded steamer, which
reached Pittsburg In the evening. Here We found
a la-ce fine steamer, the Robert Fulton, for ST.
Louis, awaiting freight, and We chartered her at
once as our transport. On the 9TH we left for
ST. Louis, where we arrived on the 18TH when we
transferred freight and men In two parties to q
couple OF already oyercrowded steamers for ST.
JOSEPH our 1epOs s f5e srr,Va of S guard
some other things from P1ttsburg, and also to
have made for Us an adometer TO measure the
long and devious miles We were expected to travel
across the Continent.
'On the 18th the party left st. Louis, and on the
Tudder. The disabled steamer was pulled in SHORE
at Camden Landing, where the disguised passed.
gers landed and awaited the coming Of another
steamer.
SCENES AT ST. 20.
SOn the 27th ST. Joseph was reached and we land
ed with the overdue tents amidst busy restless
crowd Of folks from all our western States. We
proceeded 10 the camp on Black Snake HILL = miles
In rear of the town, AMI found my men moody and
irritated from their res ent experience exposed to
the inclemency OF the weather without shelter
An ariuOus and most diSagreeabie experience for
Us was TO break some 7O-odd mules to harness and
Craught: then the vast amount OF freight for the
for ard appOrtioned to the several wagons
1.-THE country, in all directions, as lar as could
be discerned from an eminence, was dotted with
camps and tents; the roads thronged with passing
wagons, horSemen and pedestrians A ferry at ST.
Joseph OF two Scows cOrdelled over, was in per-
petuai motion day and night, so that the trains OF
heavily freighted wagons were in line from mile
back. horses TO wagons slowly closing and NOV
ing by inches down to the Scow. panderponium
OF every kind OF unScriptural language was heard.
For experiment, i had one wagon put In line at
break OF day at gap some distance in the rear
which at sunset was not within 200 yards OF the
ferry and returned in IL TO camp. As but two
wagons day could be crossed at this rate my
train OF about eighteen vehicles and a number OF
riding horses might not be able TO get over IN
eight or ten days, and in a broken disconnected
manner AT the ferry quarrels and fights for pre-
Cedence were frequently occurring, and in several
Instances with fatal results. determined, the
Ge7nier resort TO take the river road and trail on
this side, even II compelled To advance as far as
Council Bluffs.
THE SCENE AT THE POST-0ffICR
was another evidence Of an anxious pressure
The poSt-ofice was located In long, rambling row
OF old wooden buildings, and piacards In windows
Indicated the deliveries to The eXpectant argon-
s-Ohio," Tennessee" ..Michigan, &c, &c, and
lines OF the citizens OF each were moving up and
backing out. The authorities hadn't the least idea
OF such representation rom our metropolis, and
much delay occurred IN obtaining IniSsives from
home. repaired 10 the pOSt-o1ice and Insisted on
an interview with the postmaster informed
him OF the complexion OF my company. and that
was intimate with Old Zack and his cabinot, par
ticularly with the Postmaster General. IL was an
effective shot. He showed me room filled with
lumber, and said that IL should be once utilized
day we saw our card IN the window: sWashing-
ton, ID. Co. and clerk 10 serve us. We were
much gratiiied al the accommodation, but pitied
the poor clerks
ssIesirfng 10 have an oath administered to one of
my men, / sought a magistrate. Was directed to